CORY PHILPOT: Amassed 10,000 Yards In Canadian Football League, Had 2,000 Yard Season At Palm Bay

SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME

ABOVE VIDEO: Cory Philpot will be inducted into The Space Coast Sports Hall Of Fame on May 12,2017.

Corey Philpot amassed more than 10,000 all purpose yards and scored 59 touchdowns in his Canadian Football League career, and while he may have retired from the league, he did not retire from the game.

2017 PROFESSIONAL CATEGORY INDUCTEE

RECORD-SETTER AT PALM BAY

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Never forgetting where you come from and how and why you were able to achieve success is something former Palm Bay star Cory Philpot reflects on quite a bit.

Philpot is being honored not just for his accomplishments on the field for Palm Bay, the Ole Miss Rebels and the Canadian Football league but for the legacy he is building off the field in giving back to communities.

Raised by Lillie Philpot, a loving and caring but single mom, Cory could not play in organized sports leagues because his mom, raising four children on her own, simply could not afford to pay the fees and equipment costs that leagues required.

But talent and heart still find ways to win out over money in sports, and Philpot had plenty of both.

His 4.2-second 40-yard dash speed was perfect for then Artie Almer’s Palm Bay Pirates, but it was the guidance of a teammate’s father that helped Philpot a great deal in his young life. Buddy Platt, father of Pirates offensive guard Chase, took Cory under his wing and treated him like a son.

“The entire Platt family are just special people and I’m thankful every day for what they did for me,” Philpot said. “Without my mom and the Platts, I’m not telling this story.”

But some things, like passion, drive and heart cannot be taught or mentored. One must possess those characteristics to standout and Cory certainly did.

Philpot exploded in his final year on the field at Palm Bay and, as he did throughout his football career, shattered records along the way. He rushed for 2,045 yards and 22 touchdowns in 1988, which was tops in the state of Florida and a Pirates’ school record. Philpot became only the 14th back in Florida high school history to surpass 2,000 yards in a season.

After high school he attended junior college for two years in Mississippi and stayed in state to finish college playing for the University of Mississippi. After spending his junior season working his way up the Ole Miss depth chart, Philpot finished his senior season just six yards shy of 1,000.

While great running backs from the SEC inevitably end up on NFL fields, the league passed on Philpot because they said he was too small. While the rejection stung at the time, Philpot reached down into those characteristics that can’t be taught or mentored and overcame.

Philpot went north of the border instead, and in 1993, signed as free agent with the British Columbia Lions of the Canadian Football League. He started as a kick returner and had more than 1,000 kickoff return yards, including a 91-yard touchdown return as a rookie.

In 1994 Philpot really broke out, leading the Western division with 1,451 yards rushing and 13 touchdowns on the ground. His team went on to win the Super Bowl of the CFL, the Grey Cup. In the contest, Philpot rushed for 109 yards on 17 carries.

In 1994 Corey Philpot really broke out in the CFL, leading the Western division with 1,451 yards rushing and 13 touchdowns on the ground. His team went on to win the Super Bowl of the CFL, the Grey Cup. In the contest, Philpot rushed for 109 yards on 17 carries.

AMASSED 10,000 YARDS IN CFL CAREER

He was even better in 1995, setting a new league record scoring 22 touchdowns and again led the division with 1,308 rushing yards. Philpot rushed for 1,024 yards in 1996, but the team began suffering off field financial issues. This led Cory to play a few more semi-productive seasons elsewhere in the CFL before retiring after the 2000 season.

Philpot amassed more than 10,000 all purpose yards and scored 59 touchdowns in his CFL career, and while he may have retired from the league, he did not retire from the game.

Philpot’s success in Western Canada led to fame and opportunity and instead of just attaching his name to a few charities, as a lot of celebrities do, he started All-Star Youth Sports where he provides opportunities for athletes, regardless of their economic ability, to participate in sports.

“I’m proud of my records on the field, but I’m prouder of what I’ve been able to do off the field in helping young athletes have a chance to play football and succeed in life,” Philpot said.

CLICK HERE to see all the members of the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame.

Cory Philpot’s success in Western Canada led to fame and opportunity and instead of just attaching his name to a few charities, as a lot of celebrities do, he started All-Star Youth Sports where he provides opportunities for athletes, regardless of their economic ability, to participate in sports.

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – The Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame selection committee announced Thursday an impressive array of outstanding individuals to be inducted into the 2017 Class of the Hall of Fame.

Dozens of nominees were considered for the 2017 class in four categories including professional sports, college sports, high school sports and amateur sports.

Special honorary recognition will also be bestowed upon individuals and teams that have made significant contributions to sports on the Space Coast.

Space Coast Daily created the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame in 2012, and has so far inducted more than 100 of Brevard County’s most outstanding athletes, coaches and sports personalities.

The Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame is located in the main athletic building on the Melbourne Campus of Eastern Florida State College. Portraits and biographies of the Hall of Famers are displayed on the wall in the building’s main hallway that runs parallel to the gym and outside the athletic department offices. Memorabilia items and related sports artifacts will be added to the display over time. (Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame image)